GM CEO promises RHD Corvette, international operations boss says otherwise

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:35:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Chevrolet, Australia, Luxury

Affirmation, clarification, smack-down refutation - that was the order of responses when the issue of a right-hand0drive C7 Corvette came up at the Detroit Auto Show. When an Australian news outlet asked General Motors CEO Dan Akerson whether the new Stingray would get an RHD version, he answered "yes" and "soon."

That same question was put to lead Corvette engineer Tadge Juechter, and he began by stating that they've been wanting Corvette to get to Australia and "Our plan is to make this a truly global car." He then clarified Akerson's answer with "It'll be years away rather than soon.

Nevertheless, even after Juechter's curb-your-enthusiasm answer and Holden chief Mike Devereaux's sidestepping the line of fire by offering no comment, the responses led to this headline in Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Finally, iconic American sportscar, the Corvette, set for Australian showrooms."

Cue Tim Lee, GM's vice president of global manufacturing, president of its international operations and "the operating guy in charge." When the same query was put to him the day after it was put to Akerson, Lee said, "I have no idea what [Akerson] said but we have no plan to put a right-hand-drive under that bonnet. The Corvette is a Chevrolet, it's not a Holden, it never will be, next question." He added that there isn't even a plan for it, much less any engineering behind it.

His journalist questioners, sniffing blood in the contradiction, wouldn't let it go. After being led back to the subject of Akerson's "Yes" and Juechter's non-denial again and again, Lee finally said "This is a non-story from my point of view. You can write what you want to write, I really don't give a [expletive]. But it is not in the mainstream plan."

So there you have... something. The Brits and Japanese will get the new Corvette because it's legal to drive left-hand drive cars in those countries. For you Aussies, the 60-year wait continues.

GM CEO promises RHD Corvette, international operations boss says otherwise originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray for Gran Turismo 5 available tomorrow for free

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Toys/Games

Even though you can't yet mosey down to your nearest Chevrolet dealer to snag a 2014 Corvette Stingray - the on-sale date will be sometime in the third quarter of 2013 - you don't have to wait much longer to pilot one in the virtual world. Starting tomorrow, January 14, Gran Turismo 5 owners will be able to download the new 'Vette for free from the PlayStation Store.

The C7 Corvette has been available in prototype form, complete with form-fitting black camouflage, for over a month in GT5, and the prior six generations of the Corvette are also all available to drive in the game. Now, though, the full Stingray experience will allow gamers to peer at the newest 'Vette in virtual high resolution inside and out, hit 60 miles per hour in under four seconds and pull more than 1g on race tracks all around the world, including the world-famous Nürburgring.

Check out images of the 2014 Corvette Stingray in GT5 below, then scroll down below to watch a video and read all about it in the press release.

Continue reading 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray for Gran Turismo 5 available tomorrow for free

2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray for Gran Turismo 5 available tomorrow for free originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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